thanksgiving sandwich

The Hunt for ThanksgivWiches #2: Nick’s Old City

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Ok, to recap:

It’s time to look into something a bit more permanent…. Enter: Nick’s Roast Beef Bar and Grille in Old City!

I’ll shoot you straight: I’ve never actually been past the front bar area of Nick’s. I actually didn’t even know more of the establishment existed…. But if you walk past the bar, full of regulars watching the game (which game? THE GAME!) or a handful of bros loading up on cheap drinks during happy hour, you’ll reach a handful of tables just waiting for some hungry patrons.

And if you look closely at your menu, hearing the whisper of a gobble in your subconscious, you’ll spot this:

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Come to mama.

Thanksgiving All Year Long? It’s like they heard my prayers. This ThanksgivWich is offered… well…. all year long. And, thus far, it tastes closest to what I imagine from a genuine leftovers sandwich made by your dad on Black Friday while you’re sitting on the couch and ask for something to eat.

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Thanks, Dad. Err… I mean… Nick’s.

This turkey is moist as hell. And that’s saying something, mostly because I (much like many of my peers) don’t like the word moist. The cranberry sauce wasn’t any of that fancy schmancy stuff. Nope. I imagine it was from a can. It probably came out in the shape of the can.

DOESN’T MATTER, STILL GOOD.

The stuffing was a pinch on the dryer side, but that’s where the kicker came in….

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Cup of gravy the size of your sandwich? Sure.

Yup, that black little cuppa was chock full of gravy. I dipped. I poured. It got messy (just as any good Thanksgiving meal would [wait, what?])

Sure, the gravy could’ve been a bit thicker, the stuffing a bit less dry, and the kaiser roll, while doughy and delicious, resulted in a messy consumption experience. BUT served with a side of Nick’s infamous curly fries (Side Note: why aren’t these offered EVERYWHERE?!), I gotta say this tasted the most like something put together at home. And, during the rest of the year when ThanksgivWiches aren’t popping up all over the city, it’s good to know Nick’s will offer this staple all year long!

The Hunt for ThanksgivWiches #1: Jake’s Sandwich Board

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I’ve got a fever.

And the only prescription is…. more Thanksgiving sandwiches.

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Luckily, the prognosis is looking good. See, ever since I was a little lady, the concept of Thanksgiving was a little intense to me. I’m the eldest of five kids, and most years my siblings and I split up for different family celebrations. But often, we made up for the big night with Fakesgiving, or just an informal dinner of Thanksgiving Sandwiches.

ThanksgivWiches.

Since then, something about this concept of Thanksgiving on a Roll has always appealed to me. I’ve made a new goal of chasing down that perfect ThanksgivWich within the city of Philadelphia, since my beloved Capriotti’s is too far. Up first?

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Bathroom Doors: Charming, no?

Jake’s Sandwich Board’s Turducken (click HERE for video)

Jake’s has always been a favorite spot of mine, mostly because it’s truly a place that reminds you how high you are on the food chain. Sandwiches topped with turkey, brisket, bacon, pulled pork, or a mix of a few…. Seeded rolls, sriracha mayo, and a number of other toppings from long hots to bitter greens, avocado to cheese, roasted vegetables to pickled red onions. But I had tunnel vision.

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Sandwich of the Month: Turducken

I had heard tell of this “Turducken” Sandwich, but finally today took the 5 block stroll over to get one of my own.

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Why not add a side of fried potatoes to this sandwich topped with fried potatoes?

This sandwich was delicious… and super busy. The base of cranberry-apple sauce was the spread, but some of the flavors might have been lost in the…. well, in the other flavors.

I think a great challenge of the ThanksgivWich is to allow the multitude of ingredients to sing in harmony. And while the Turducken was tasty, it was rare to get a bite that contained more than 1 or 2 ingredients. The seeded roll, however…. that was just a crusty delight.

This is a sandwich meant to be served and consumed hot, and the addition of the potato pancake was an EXCELLENT one. Unfortunately, due to the size of the medallions, only a few bites of the sandwich actually contained the potato crunch. I actually think that there could be a few more if they were smaller, and that could lead to more potato bites. Which is a good thing.

I’ve got my eyes out for others, and I’ll definitely be checking out the offerings from Wawa (the Infamous Gobbler), Nick’s Roast Beef in Old City, PERHAPS a trip to Fairmount’s Rybread for their Savannah, and a jaunt to Reading Terminal Market for Bassett’s Original Turkey. Now welcoming suggestions, especially the seasonal ones!